All About Pocket Knives

I'm preplexed on this Case. The tang stamp shows 1920-1940, there is no model number on any blade and I think the blades are SS. I've read that they did use SS blades during that time period but it was uncommon. Can anyone shed some light on this for me please? If you need additional pictures please let me know. Thanks

It might help to give the length of the knife and show a clear picture of the shield, sometimes that helps in dating and identifying the older Case knives.
If the closed length is 2-1/2" it is likely a pattern 29 called a Tadpole.
Treefarmer

Knife is 100% correct and is a very nice example of a 6229 1/2 "Tadpole" with rough black handles.

Thank you for your replies. Here are some better pictures. Would these be SS blades or Chrome Vanadium blades? Are the scales Delrin or bone?

Your great little Case has been identified by the expert, Steve Pfeiffer!
According to Mr. Pfeiffer's book all of the "Tadpoles" were chrome vanadium only.
Treefarmer

Thanks again Treefarmer and knifeaholic for all of the information. I am pleasantly surprised that the knife is that old the shine of the blades and the overall condition is what really threw me off. I bought the knife in a lot of pieces in a online auction. The knife was caked with grease and dirt the shield and the scale texture were not visible. The main blade could not be opened until the a soak released the grime.

glongiii wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2026 1:26 pm The knife was caked with grease and dirt the shield and the scale texture were not visible. The main blade could not be opened until the a soak released the grime.

Nice save, glongiii. I don't know if the rough black handle is actually the material called "Delrin", but it definitely is synthetic, not bone.

glongiii wrote: ↑Tue Apr 21, 2026 12:48 pmAre the scales Delrin or bone?

definately not Delrin which was discovered in the 1920s by Hermann Staudinger, it was synthesized into a stable, commercial form by DuPont chemist Robert N. MacDonald in 1952, with commercial production launching in 1960, well past the manufacturing of your knife.

Knice save!

I’m not sure the exact composition of the handle covers but I believe it to be some form of hard rubber. At the Case factory the material was called “gum fuddy” by the employees. A long-time Case employee (now deceased) told me the factory workers were not fond of it for some reason - my guess is it was difficult to work with. As Tom says, it’s definitely not Delrin.

Nice find! Unusual to find one that has so much of the factory polish remaining.

Ken

Mumbleypeg
I’m not sure the exact composition of the handle covers but I believe it to be some form of hard rubber. At the Case factory the material was called “gum fuddy” by the employees. A long-time Case employee (now deceased) told me the factory workers were not fond of it for some reason - my guess is it was difficult to work with. As Tom says, it’s definitely not Delrin.

Nice find! Unusual to find one that has so much of the factory polish remaining.

Ken
[/quote]

I'm guessing that the amount of grease on this knife when I received is what saved the factory polish.

This is a good reminder for all of us, every now and then a real prize is covered with dirt, grease and sometimes rust. These knives are sometimes overlooked and we might find a real nice Tadpole in the junk!
Congratulations to glongiii!
Treefarmer

Thank you to everyone for the info. This is a great community I was hesitant to post due to my lack of knowledge.